“Spirit of the Marathon II” Races Into Cinemas Featuring Inspirational
Stories From Seven Motivated Competitors Running The Rome Marathon
NCM Fathom Events and Competitor Group Take Audiences Through the Training and
Challenges of Facing the Famed 26.2 Mile Race In Select U.S. Theaters on
Wednesday, June 12
Business Wire
CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- April 25, 2013
The road to the finish line of a marathon is paved with individual stories of
motivation, determination and triumph. Set against the sweeping backdrop of a
26.2 mile marathon race through the historic streets of Rome, Italy, “Spirit
of the Marathon II” focuses on seven inspiring individuals whose lives will
forever be transformed by the experience. NCM Fathom Events and Competitor
Group present this highly anticipated sequel to the 2008 award-winning
documentary “Spirit of the Marathon” in select U.S. theaters on Wednesday,
June 12 at 7:00 p.m. local time. Audiences will be transported to six
countries for an intimate “up close and personal” look into the runners’ lives
and the challenges they face – both physical and emotional – on an epic
journey where finishing the Rome Marathon is anything but certain. The event
also features inspirational interviews with marathon greats Stefano Baldini,
Paula Radcliffe, Frank Shorter, Kathrine Switizer and others as they offer
perspective and insight into this legendary race and its history. This
one-night event will include behind-the-scenes interviews, deleted scenes and
memorable outtakes from the filming of the documentary.
Tickets for “Spirit of the Marathon II” are available at participating theater
box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater
locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom Events website (theaters and
participants are subject to change). The event will be broadcast to more than
600 select movie theaters across the country through NCM’s exclusive Digital
Broadcast Network.
Film producers, NCM Fathom Events and movie theater circuit partners AMC
Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. and Regal Entertainment Group will
donate a portion of the proceeds from the “Spirit of the Marathon II” event to
The One Fund Boston to assist those families most affected by the tragic
events that unfolded during the 2013 Boston Marathon on April 15. The
Competitor Group, along with organizations representing all facets of the
running industry, has launched RunNow.com to raise money for The One Fund
Boston and promote the sport of running.
“Spirit of the Marathon II” is a passion project made by marathon runners and
accomplished filmmakers Jon Dunham (director) and Gwendolen Twist (producer),
who led a team that includes three-time Academy Award^® winner Mark Jonathan
Harris (executive producer) and Academy Award^® nominee Megan Williams
(producer).
“In the sea of humanity at the start of every big city marathon, each
individual has reasons to run that go beyond 26.2 miles,” said 25-time
marathoner Dunham.
“It is our intention to bring these stories into focus with the ‘Spirit of the
Marathon’ documentaries,” said Twist, who recently qualified for the
prestigious Boston Marathon.
Filmed during the sweeping panorama of the 2012 Rome Marathon, the documentary
brings together a diverse cast of amateur athletes and marathon veterans,
including:
*Julie Weiss – Veteran Marathoner – At the Rome Marathon, Julie began a
quest to run a marathon a week for a year to honor the memory of her
father on an emotional journey to spread awareness and raise money for
pancreatic cancer - the devastating disease that claimed his life.
*Ylenia Anelli – First-time Marathoner – While struggling to keep her
mom-and -pop running shoe store open in Milan and raising two children,
Ylenia takes on the challenge of training to run her first marathon.
*Vasyl Matviychuk – Olympic Marathoner Hopeful – The elite marathoner
trains with the pride of country in his heart in hopes that a fast time at
the Rome Marathon will earn him the last spot on the Ukrainian National
Olympic Team.
*Mimmo Scipioni – Veteran Marathoner – The good-natured, hard-working owner
of "Pizzeria Il Podista" (The Runner Pizzeria) in Rome, Mimmo has lined
his pizzeria’s walls with photos and trophies from the more than 40
marathons he has run. It is a pre-race tradition for runners to carbo load
with Mimmo. For Mimmo, the family tradition of running the Rome Marathon
is in jeopardy due to a nagging injury.
*Domenico Anzini – Veteran Marathoner – Prodded by his cousin Mimmo, it
took a lot of convincing for Domenico to give running a try. Now, 18 years
later, the 73-year-old has run in every Rome Marathon since its inception.
The camaraderie and humor the cousins share during their training runs
goes to the heart of family.
*Cliff Scott – First-time Marathoner – Scott’s bucket list decision to run
his first marathon in his 60’s is an inspiration unto itself. When faced
with an unimaginable family tragedy he struggles to make peace with
himself during training runs in the woods. It is painfully obvious that
his loss has taken its toll and calls into question whether he will be
able to finish the Rome Marathon.
*Epiphanie Nyirabarame – Two-time Olympian – One of the few professional
runners in Rwanda, Epiphanie proudly represents her country around the
world to create change for women. Having been deeply affected by the
genocide in 1994, Epiphanie uses her resources to invest in her community,
advocating for progress and growth, especially for the future generation
of runners.
NCM Fathom Events teamed with Dunham, Twist, Harris and Wasserman Media Group
in 2008 to bring the documentary “Spirit of the Marathon,” which chronicled
the journey of six runners in the 2007 Chicago Marathon, to hundreds of U.S.
movie theaters, many of which sold out. The documentary has emerged as a cult
favorite in the running community.
“’Spirit of the Marathon II’ is more than a sports event – it’s an opportunity
for runners and non-runners alike to come together as a community in their
local movie theaters to experience seven different inspirational journeys with
each of these runners,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of NCM
Fathom Events. “The 2008 event featuring the first ‘Spirit of the Marathon’
drew tens of thousands of attendees. ‘Spirit of the Marathon II’ is a must-see
for those who run and those who don’t. It’s an extraordinary experience for
all.”
About National CineMedia (NCM)
National CineMedia (NCM) operates NCM Media Networks, a leading integrated
media company reaching U.S. consumers in movie theaters, online and through
mobile technology. The NCM Cinema Network and NCM Fathom Events present cinema
advertising and events across the nation’s largest digital in-theater network,
comprised of theaters owned by AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc.
(NYSE: CNK), Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) and other leading regional
theater circuits. NCM’s theater advertising network covers 183 Designated
Market Areas® (49 of the top 50) and includes over 19,300 screens
(approximately 18,500 digital). During 2012, approximately 710 million patrons
attended movies shown in theaters in which NCM currently has exclusive, cinema
advertising agreements in place. The NCM Fathom Events live digital broadcast
network (“DBN”) is comprised of over 740 locations in 172 Designated Market
Areas® (including all of the top 50). The NCM Interactive Network offers
360-degree integrated marketing opportunities in combination with cinema,
encompassing 41 entertainment-related websites, online widgets and mobile
applications. National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns a 46.9% interest in
and is the managing member of National CineMedia LLC. For more information,
visit www.ncm.com or www.FathomEvents.com. (NCMI-E)
For artwork/photos related to “Spirit of the Marathon II,” click here.
Contact:
NCM Fathom Events
Michelle Portillo, 303-792-8651
michelle.portillo@ncm.com
or
Scoop Marketing for NCM Fathom Events
Erik Stein, 818-761-6100
estein@solters.com
or
TLC MediaWorks Inc. for “Spirit of the Marathon II”
Laurence Cohen, 310-980-7788
laurence@tlcmediaworks.com